Building trust and bringing care where it’s needed most
New program combines housing assistance with on-the-street medical care
For the nearly 13,000 people experiencing homelessness in New Jersey, health care is often out of reach. Many lack insurance and/or transportation, struggle with mental health conditions or addiction, and distrust the health system due to past negative experiences. Their health disparities are compounded by unstable living conditions, limited resources, and ongoing trauma. As a result, these individuals often face higher rates of illness and shorter life expectancies.
In Somerset County, where the homeless population has more than doubled since 2018, Zufall Health is working to break this cycle. A new program funded by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs equips Zufall staff to provide intensive case management, housing assistance, and medical care to unsheltered individuals in suburban settings, including those living in parks, tents, vacant buildings, or other uninhabitable spaces. The program recognizes that housing is a basic human right and offers the stability needed to rebuild lives.
Left: In a wooded encampment in Somerset, Benjamin Kim, PA, checks a man’s blood pressure after treating a gash on his face. “For me, this program has been about more than just providing medical care,” Kim says. “It’s about recognizing that so many other parts of our patients’ lives need healing—their loneliness, the quality of their food, having a safe place to sleep. These are the needs that must complement one’s physical health, and I appreciate the work my colleagues on the Outreach team are doing to make this comprehensive care possible. Right: Amid New Jersey’s ongoing affordable housing crisis, nearly 2,000 people were counted sleeping outdoors on a single night in January 2024. Zufall’s Somerset County outreach program prioritizes placing people into permanent housing before addressing other needs.
Equally important is the program’s medical care component to treat people where they are. While Zufall has long used mobile units for outreach, this initiative goes further by bringing essential care directly to encampments and other temporary dwellings. After establishing trust, a Zufall outreach representative is accompanied by a physician assistant who provides treatment to address wounds or infections, harm reduction supplies, and other basic medical care. For those needing more specialized care, including Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), dental care, or lab work, transportation is provided to one of Zufall’s Somerset County offices.
“In affluent Somerset County, it’s easy to overlook homelessness, but it’s right here, in our own neighborhoods,” says Fran Palm, president and CEO. When we talk about equal opportunity for good health, this is exactly what we mean—making sure that everyone, no matter their circumstances, has access to the care they need.”
Michelle Blanchfield, vice president of community engagement and program lead, adds, “Trust is key. For many of these individuals, health care has often been perceived as harmful or stigmatizing. By bringing care directly to them, we’re showing that they matter and that they can trust us with their health.”
Click here for more information and statistics about homelessness in New Jersey.
Above: Freedom Trail Community Wellness Center, an organization in Somerville that supports people in recovery from drugs and alcohol, is one of several places where Zufall Health Outreach Representatives Carlos Cruz (left) and Tania Asmal (center) and Physician Assistant Benjamin Kim, PA, regularly assist people experiencing homelessness.
